by Kris Handel
Vibrations Now is the new EP from Fantastic Purple Spots, the duo of Barrett Jones and Dave Junker out of Austin, Texas and it's four songs are full of folk-ish dreamy psychedelia that lingers in the eardrums well after its done. Their earlier full length from 2022 featured a little more bite as well as an air of floating exploration informed by the San Francisco 60's psych scene and oddball pop. On this EP, the duo lean into the spacier aspects of their influences and recall the fuzzier elements of a band like Brian Jonestown Massacre as well as calling back to the harmonies of bands like The Beach Boys and The Byrds. There is a nice warm vibe in most of these tracks and a bit more of an adventurous musical searching, picking and pulling from different shades and influences that collide wondrously with each other.
"Wondering, Wandering" starts the album off with deep reverb, whirring keys, and slowly recited vocalizations that hint at Flying Nun bands like The Chills and The Clean mixed with early Luna, with quite a lovely atmosphere that sits on the edge of unease. Junker and Jones' vocals echo and melodically enhance each other while scrappy bending guitars linger in the distance enticingly. The title track is a swirling sprawl of deep guitar booms and squiggly leads while the vocals are still a little recessed. They have a clarity that is welcome and drive along with starts and stops that recall Kurt Heasley and Lily's. Junker and Jones push into different environs within a song and their explorations, especially here, uncovering some gems of inspiration and a floating artfulness that is very appreciated.
There's some added bit of echo and muscle on this release, but these five songs still leave the listener with a fuzzy glow and listening experience that is superbly crafted. With an innocence to most everything here, they offer an occasional carefree approach that is a nice retreat via a leisurely trip through a colorful spectrum. Melodies pop out of every corner and the band indulge in some fun playfulness as well as enough backbone to break out some darker tones on occasion for some muscle. This EP is quite approachable and the variation on psych dreams with a garage-ish edge should hit the spot amid fine musical craft and a warm enveloping haze to wrap yourself up in.